If you’ve asked, “What is a dual fuel heating system?” then you’re not alone. Before we can get to answering the question as to whether or not it’s worth it for you, we’re going to have to discuss what exactly a dual fuel heating system is.
Gas furnaces and electric heat pumps sometimes aren’t perfect in either direction. Gas furnaces might be too powerful in a warmer climate with milder winters, and an electric heat pump might be perfect for most of the year except for those few cold nights when it really can’t run efficiently. Having to choose between gas and electricity can sometimes be a real pain, which is why dual-fuel heating in Plano, TX exists in the first place!
Our climate can give us some mild winters, but every once in a while, we’re graced with some very chilly nights—and a dual-fuel heating system is one innovative way to deal with the problem. Our Plano heating experts at Aire Texas Heating and Air Conditioning talk about how.
The Best of Both Worlds
Dual fuel systems combine the year-round efficiency of an electric heat pump with the power of a gas furnace. These two systems in combination provide absolute comfort that can’t be matched by any one particular system.
Increased Efficiency
Separately, heat pumps and gas furnaces have unique advantages and disadvantages. Heat pumps are incredibly efficient for warm or mild climates, but a few cold nights a year could prove to be serious stumbling blocks as they can’t move heat efficiently, and their power drops significantly. With gas furnaces, you’ve got powerful heating year-round, but in a climate like ours, we don’t necessarily need powerful heating for more than a couple of rough months.
With these systems combined, they can overcome their unique disadvantages and work together as a team! The heat pump provides extremely efficient comfort through most of the year, and when the temperature drops below a certain threshold (when the heat pump can’t move heat efficiently anymore), the furnace kicks in, and you’ve got quality heating for the lowest possible price!
Environmentally Friendly
With increased efficiency comes sustainable comfort. Why use more energy or fuel than you need to? A heat pump is powered by electricity, which is efficient and clean for the environment. On those nights when your gas furnace kicks in, it burns natural gas, which is a clean-burning fuel that’s incredibly efficient and affordable in our area. Settling for either gas or electricity would consume massive amounts of energy or fuel, which is wasteful. A dual-fuel heating system stops that energy waste before it becomes a problem.
High Initial Price, Low Operating Cost
While we know that a dual-fuel heating system can be expensive system to have installed initially, you’ll save huge amounts of money on expenses in the long run. Heat pumps in mild climates function at a fraction of the cost of a gas or electric furnace, while the gas furnace will cost less to operate than a heat pump on those cold nights. You’re essentially paying the least amount of money for fuel or energy possible because the two systems are working together!
Sound like a worthwhile investment? Contact Aire Texas today! Doing it right the first time every time!
